After averaging 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds against a slate that included a pair of nationally ranked opponents, junior guard Aliyyah Handford has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, it was announced by the league office on Monday morning.
Aliyyah Handford. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
Handford was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Dec. 22 and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Co-Player of the Week the following day after averaging 24.5 points and 6.5 rebounds during an impressive two-game appearance at the 2014 Chartwells Holiday Classic hosted by the Red Storm.
Kicking off the week against Providence on Tuesday, Handford paced a huge second half comeback for the Red Storm, scoring 15 of her 21 points in the second half to help the Red Storm overcome an 11-point deficit. The junior guard also grabbed six boards and recorded a pair of steals against the Friars
On Friday, Handford recorded 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in an all-around effort against No. 23 Seton Hall as the Red Storm claimed a 59-50 victory to improve to 3-0 in BIG EAST play and record the program’s first win over a ranked opponent at home since Jan. 7, 2012. The junior also contributed to a stellar defensive effort which saw St. John’s hold the Pirates without a point for over nine minutes down the stretch.
On Sunday and in front of a nationally-televised audience at the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden, Handford poured in a team-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds in the Red Storm’s 70.54 defeat at the hands of No. 2 UConn. Handford added one assist and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line on her way to becoming just the third player this season to score 20 or more points against the Huskies.
The Red Storm is back in action on Friday night, playing host to BIG EAST foe Butler in Carnesecca Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
For more information on the St. John’s Women’s Basketball team fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here: